Roche is paying $50 million up front to begin a drug R&D alliance with Monte Rosa Therapeutics, a biotech whose molecular glue technology could address targets previously deemed undruggable. It’s Roche’s second such deal in the past month.
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals is paying $1 billion to acquire VectivBio, a biotech whose lead program could become a blockbuster treatment for a gastrointestinal disorder. Preliminary Phase 3 data are expected by the end of 2023.
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
The two deaths reported following treatment with Novartis’s Zolgensma mark the first fatal cases of acute liver failure associated with the gene therapy. Liver complications are a known side effect risk of Zolgensma and other genetic medicines that are delivered by engineered viruses.
Vector BioPharma has launched from the biotech startup incubator of Versant Ventures, which is backing the company with a $30 million Series A financing. Vector is developing virus-like particles with the capability to deliver large payloads of genetic medicines to a wide range of tissues.
Plaque psoriasis drug Vtama is now approved by the FDA, making it the first novel topical treatment for the chronic autoimmune disorder in a generation. Roivant Sciences subsidiary Dermavant Sciences acquired the drug from GlaxoSmithKline in 2018.
Versant Ventures has launched Cimeio Therapeutics, a biotech startup with technology that can shield transplanted stem cells or cell therapies. Shielding these cells enables them to be dosed alongside an immunotherapy—an approach that is not currently done because the therapies don’t discriminate between diseased cells and transplanted ones.
At the Abarca Forward conference earlier this year, George Van Antwerp, managing director at Deloitte, discussed how social determinants of health and a personalized member experience can improve medication adherence and health outcomes.
A Novartis drug that stops abnormal cell growth in breast cancer now has an additional FDA approval treating a group of rare disorders characterized by overgrowth in various types of tissue. The regulatory decision makes the drug, Vijoice, the first approved therapy for these disorders termed “PROS.”
Novartis unveiled a corporate restructuring that is consolidating some operations in cash-saving moves expected to lead to $1 billion in annual savings. The shakeup means the departure of several key executives, including Chief Medical Officer John Tsai, who has held that role since 2018.
Novartis is partnering with BeiGene on the development of a drug that addresses TIGIT, a hot cancer immunotherapy target. The Swiss pharma giant is committing $300 million up front, and up to $700 million more upon exercising its option on BeiGene's antibody drug.
Novartis is paying UCB $150 million up front to share in the development of two clinical-stage Parkinson’s disease drugs that offer new approaches to treating the disease. Depending on the progress of those drugs, UCB could earn up to $1.5 billion in milestone payments.
We will highlight Build My Health's revenue practice management tools, which could help physician practices add up to $250,000 to their practices.
Novartis’s equity stake in Roche, shares acquired 20 years ago in a strategy to build up to a potential mega-merger, will be sold back to the company in a $20.7 billion deal. The cash proceeds could fuel Novartis R&D, as well as potential dealmaking.
Founded by former hedge fund manager Vivek Ramawamy, Roivant Sciences set out to redefine drug development by acquiring overlooked drugs and advancing their development. The merger deal that will take it public reveals how much new technology changed the company's vision and its strategy.
The public markets welcomed VectivBio and Reneo Pharmaceuticals, which priced their IPOs late Thursday. Both clinical-stage companies are developing drugs that address rare diseases.
Founded in 2017, Artidis has raised $15.1 million and hopes to enter the U.S. market for cancer diagnosis by 2022. But the startup first has to convince the FDA that its device works.
Actemra reduced the percentage of patients with Covid-19 pneumonia who progressed to requiring mechanical ventilation, but did not show an improvement in mortality, time to discharge or improvement on an ordinal scale of clinical status. Results of the Phase III COVACTA study, announced in July, were negative.